Film patterned retarder for stereoscopic three-dimensional display using ink-jet printing method

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Display Technology

Background:

• Conventional film patterned retarder (FPR) fabrication involves costly photo-alignment coating and UV exposure with wire-grid masks.
• Existing methods present significant cost and complexity barriers for widespread adoption in stereoscopic 3D displays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel, cost-effective ink-jet printing method for fabricating film patterned retarders (FPRs).
• To enable wider application of FPRs in stereoscopic 3D display technologies by reducing manufacturing costs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a polyether sulfone plastic substrate and a poly (4, 4' - (9, 9 -fluorenyl) diphenylene cyclobutanyltetracarboximide) (9FDA/CBDA) alignment layer.
• Employed an ink-jet printing technique to deposit 9FDA/CBDA line by line for precise alignment layer fabrication.
• Investigated the alignment capabilities of 9FDA/CBDA for reactive mesogens along and perpendicular to the rubbing direction.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated a cost-effective FPR using ink-jet printing of 9FDA/CBDA on a plastic substrate.
• The 9FDA/CBDA layer effectively aligned reactive mesogens, crucial for retarder functionality.
• Demonstrated a viable alternative to expensive conventional FPR manufacturing processes.

Conclusions:

• Ink-jet printing of 9FDA/CBDA offers a simplified and economical approach to FPR fabrication.
• The proposed method significantly reduces the cost and complexity associated with producing FPRs for stereoscopic 3D displays.
• This innovation holds potential for broad application in the rapidly growing 3D display market.